The Supreme Court today sought responses from the Centre, Rajasthan and Goa on pleas alleging that cruelty is being meted out to elephants used for joyrides in these states.<br/>A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant asked Solicitor General, Ranjit Kumar to find out as to whether the elephants, used for joyrides, are being subjected to cruelty<br/>in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. <br/><br/>The direction came on two applications moved on a PIL, filed by six organisations and individuals including Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, which said the number of captive elephants kept by private persons and religious<br/>institutions stood at over 3,000. The two pleas alleged that the elephants, used for such rides, were chained and ill-treated in violation of the statutory provisions.The Solicitor General, during the hearing, said there was no provision which suggest that an elephant cannot be used for such joyrides. The court, seeking responses from the Animal Welfare Board states and their authorities, said there should not be any violation of the legal provisions.